Pocket sheet for loose-leaf binders



p 15, 1970 J. R. RITCHIE 3,528,602

POCKET SHEET FOR LOOSE-LEAF BINDERS Filed Nov. 30, 1967 ATTORNEY Johnf2. Ez'fc/u'e.

United States Patent 3 528 602 POCKET SHEET FOR EOOSE-LEAF BINDERS JohnR. Ritchie, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Controlled Brands FoodInstitute, Inc., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 30,1967, Ser. No. 687,054 Int. Cl. B65d 27/06 US. Cl. 229-68 '4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to improvements inpocket sheets for loose-leaf binders and to the method of manufacturefor the same.

Heretofore, pocket sheets of this general character have beenmanufactured from cut blanks in such a manner that when bound in a ringbinder, access to the pocket therein is difiicult owing primarily to thefact that the opening to the pocket is disposed at an angle extendinginwardly downwardly from the free edge to the bound edge. Further, suchpocket sheets present an edge of single thickness for attachment to thebinder, and, additionally, are difiicult to manufacture in existingautomatic machines owing to the presence of an index tab on the freeedge thereof. Also, because of the manner in which the pocket panel issecured to the main panel, the access opening to the pocket and thepocket capacity itself is substantially restricted.

In the herein disclosed structure, the pocket sheet which is formed froma pre-cut blank, has a double thickness throughout the length of itsattachment edge, and, further, the pocket access opening is angledoutwardly from the attachment edge, thus affording easy access to theinterior of the pocket. Also, owing to the novel manner of assembly, theaccess opening to the pocket is substantially coincidental to the widthof the pocket sheet and the pocket therefore has maximum capacity.Because of the specific structure giving rise to these advantages, it ispossible to manufacture these pocket sheets by feeding the blanksthrough a conventional type of right-angle glueing machine, such as, forexample, by use of an International Right-angle Gluer, manufactured byInternational Machine Co. Such machines embody means to successivelyperform the necessary folds in the blank and to turn a partially formedblank 90, so as to perform automatically all the steps of the forming,adhesive applying and sealing operations in continuous succession.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a pocket sheet ofthe character referred to.

Another object is to provide a pocket sheet having attachmentperforations on a double ply edge.

Another object is to provide a pocket sheet of the character referred tohaving an angularly disposed access opening arranged with its lowermostedge terminating at the free edge of the pocket sheet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pocket sheet of thecharacter referred to wherein the pocket is disposed on the back side ofthe sheet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pocket sheet having apocket of maximum capacity.

Another object is to provide a novel method of assembling such pocketsheets from single blanks of sheet material.

Patented Sept. 15, 1970 The structure and means by which the above notedand other advantages and objects of the invention are attained will bedescribed in the following specification, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, showing a preferred illustrative embodiment ofthe invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cut blank of foldable shape retaining sheetmaterial.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the back side of a finished pocket sheet.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the front side of a finished pocket sheet.

FIG. 4 is a top end view of the pocket sheet.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the successive steps taken inthe glueing and assembling of the pocket sheet.

Referring now to the exemplary disclosure of the invention as shown inthe accompanying drawings, the improved pocket sheet is for-med from ablank 11 of paperboard or like shape-retaining material suitably die cutand scored to provide a main or first panel 12 and a substantiallytriangular shaped pocket or second panel 13 hingedly connected to panel12 on complemental longitudinal edges by a fold line 14 preferablygenerated by scoring. The other or free longitudinal edge of panel 12has an integral index tab 12a that may be located at any desiredposition along the length thereof. One end of panel 12 carries a flap15, connected thereto by a fold line 16, whereas the short freelongitudinal edge of panel 13 carries a flap 17 connected thereto alongfold line 18. The pocket panel 13 has one of its edges 19 curvedgracefully from the end 18a of fold line 18 upwardly to the unflappedend edge 12b of panel 12. The side edges of flaps 15 and 17 may betapered inwardly from their adjacent folds 16 and 18, respectively, asto permit the flaps to lie wholly within the plane of the surface ofeach adjacent panel 13 and 12, respectively, and bottom flap 15 may alsobe perforated to give added three ply strength at the fold 14 formounting the pocket sheet in a ring binder.

In fabrication of the pocket sheet from such a blank, a series of suchblanks are fed, one at a time, in a flat condition onto suitableconveyor means in a folding and glueing machine. This machine is notshown in the drawings, but FIG. 5 depicts the paths along which a streamof blanks advance through the machine and the various successive stepsof the glueing and folding accomplished during their advance. As is wellunderstood in the art, such a machine includes means like conveyors 21and 22 for advancing the streams of blanks to successive stations wherevarious operations are performed, as well as requisite belts, rollersand plows (not shown for performing such operations.

Viewing FIG. 5, the flat blank 11 is advanced through the machine in aflat condition on conveyor 21 to Station A, whereupon the flap 17encounters a plow (see arrow p) that folds it over so that it lies flaton the top surface of the back panel 13. It then passes beneath anadhesive applying roller 23 (at Station B) which coats the upper surfaceof the folded flap 17 with a suitable adhesive. As the blank leavesStation B, the pocket or back panel 13 is folded over 180 along foldline 14 so as to lie fiat against the opposed surface of the front panel12. This folding is illustrated by arrow Pa, at Station C. Pressure isthen applied, as by belts or rollers (not shown) to insure adhesion offlap 17 to the front panel surface.

The partially assembled pocket sheet is then carried from Station C ontoconveyor 22 moving in the same plane as but in a direction at rightangles to the first named conveyor 21. The flap 15 is now coated with aice layer of adhesive applied thereto by a roller 24 at Station D,following which the adhesive coated flap 15 is plowed over or otherwisefolded (see arrow Pb) along fold line 16 so as to overlay the topsurface of pocket panel 13. The complete assembly then is pressed bymeans of suitable belts, rollers, or platens (not shown) for a period oftime sufficient to insure adhesion of the adhesive joints.

After forming, a series of perforations 25 are preformed adjacent to thefold 14, as by drilling, so as to provide apertures for threading ontothe rings of a conventional ring binder (not shown).

Both the front and back surfaces of the completed pock-' et sheet maybear any desired printing material.

It should be apparent that owing to the manner of assembly, the accessopening to the pocket, along curved edge 19, is co-extensive with thewidth of the pocket sheet and access thereinto for insertion andwithdrawal of the contents may be easily accomplished. As shown in FIG.4, the pocket formed therein has a width substantially equal to thewidth of the pocket sheet.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention inconsiderable detail, it will be understood that the description thereofis intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, as details ofthe structure and the steps of the method may be modified or changedwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact constructionshown and described.

I claim:

1. A one piece pocket sheet for loose leaf binders comprising asubstantially rectangular first panel, a second panel of substantiallythe same width as the first panel and having parallel side edges, one ofsaid second panel side edges being co-extensive with a side edge of thefirst panel and the other second panel side edge being partiallyco-extensive 'with a side edge of the first panel, a fold integrallyjoining said first co-extensive side edges and said panels being foldedalong said fold to lie one over the other surface to surface, a firstflap integrally connected by a fold to said second side edge of thesecond panel, said fiap lying between the first and second panels andadhesively secured to the opposed surface of the first panel, a secondflap on one end edge of the first panel overlying and adhesively securedto the outside surface of the second panel, and perforations adjacentsaid fold for mounting said pocket sheet in a loose leaf binder.

2. The pocket sheet recited in claim 1, in which the side edge of thefirst panel remote from said fold has an integral index tab protrudingtherefrom.

3. The pocket sheet recited in claim 1, in which the side edges of eachof the flaps are tapered inwardly from the panel adjacent thereto as tolie wholly Within the plane of the surface of said adjacent panel.

4. The pocket sheet recited in claim 1, in which the second flap is alsoperforated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 671,968 4/1901 Kittredge 229-681,860,965 5/1932 Stone 229--68 2,091,667 8/1937 Barnes 22968 DAVID M.BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 22972

